Trip to Dallas to see FGCU-UF game won't come cheap

Dania Maxwell/Staff
James Stephens, left, and Claire Dougherty, right, of the Florida Gulf Coast Cheerleading team, hold up a cardboard sign of the FGCU men's basketball team coach, Andy Enfield, while outside Alico Arena before departing for the NCAA tournament on Wednesday, Mar. 20, 2013 in Estero, Fla. Following the men's basketball victory in the Atlantic Sun Tournament, they are participating in the NCAA tournament for the first time in FGCU history.

Hoping to see the Florida Gulf Coast University men’s basketball team make history Friday night? Be ready to open your wallet.

The Eagles — the first No. 15 seed to reach the Sweet Sixteen — will play the University of Florida at 9:57 p.m. Friday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

But getting to witness history won’t be cheap.

Plane tickets to the to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport start at over $500 according to several Internet searches.

American Airlines is the only airline that operates direct flights between Southwest Florida International Airport and the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. Matt Miller, a spokesman for American, said the airline flies three direct flights between Fort Myers and Dallas daily. Travelers can also get to Dallas on one of the airline’s four flights between Fort Myers, Chicago and Dallas.

“We’re expecting the flights to be very full, but we’re not adding any more,” he said.

A check of the American Airlines website found tickets starting at $700 for a direct flight.

Next on the to-do list, getting into the stadium.

Ticketmaster had tickets on sale Monday for the South Regional games, which include the FGCU and UF game and the University of Kansas and the University of Michigan game. They cost between $70 and $600 each. Single game tickets started at $40.

For something of a different experience, PrimeSport.com is offering fans tickets to the game as well as entrance to a pregame party. The company, which is the official ticket provider of the NCAA, allows fans to buy and sell tickets online and guarantees that the tickets are legitimate.

Tickets on PrimeSport.com on Monday ranged from $157.50 to $585 per ticket for third row floor seats. All included the hospitality package.

“We like to offer something in addition to the game because people come to a new city and they don’t often know what to do,” said John Swidzinski, a spokesman for PrimeSport.com.

There’s also a chance to get tickets through the university.

FGCU students and Eagles Club Members could purchase tickets Monday. Tickets will be available at noon today for alumni, faculty, staff and season ticket holders. For the general public, tickets will be available on Wednesday morning.

For fans making the trip to Dallas, there is one opportunity to see the Eagles play for free. FGCU will play in an open practice from 1 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. Thursday at Cowboys Stadium.

As for hotels, a quick search of Hotels.com found rooms for as low as $50 a night. However, several hotels near the stadium contacted by the Daily News already sold out in anticipation for this weekend’s games.